John b



No Model.) J R RANKIN PRINTERS INK FOUNTAIN. N0.'273,605= Patented Mar. 6,1883.

N. PEYERS. mum w. Washington. 0. c)

UNITED STATES FFICEQ ATENT PRINTERS INK-FOUNTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,605, dated March 6, 1883.

Application filed June 23, 1882. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. RANKIN, a resident of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion, State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printers Ink-Fount ains, of which the following is a specification, having reference to the accompanying drawll] s.

gly invention relates to an improvement in printersink-fountains for useon hand-presses, my object being to provide a receptacle for the ink from which the delivery of the ink to the ink-rollerand ink-plate can be easily controlled and the same evenly distributed.

My invention consists in theconstruction of the ink-receptacle and the means for controlling the flow of the ink, as hereinafter fully described.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Like letters refer to the same parts in all figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of the fountain and part of ink-plate; F g. 2, a plan of fountain and ink-plate; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the ink-fountain.

A represents a rectangular box,opeu at the top and having along its front side, near the bottom, one or more series of holes, I). Said holes are so placed that the holes of one series are opposite [he spaces of the other series. One side and the bottom of said box are made of wood and the front side and ends are made of sheet metal. The front edge of the bottom 0 is rabbeted, as shown at d, to receive the ends of slidese. Slides e are thin pieces of sheet metal, theuse of which is to prevent the flow of ink from portions of the holes in the front of the box. Said slides are designed to be of various lengths, so that the delivery of ink may be suited to the length of form in the press-that is to say, the box A is made the entire length of the longest form which the press will receive. In case such a form is in usethe short slides e are removed, audasimilar slide, extending the whole length oftho box, is inserted and pushed down only so far as to cover the upper series of holes more or less, as may be necessary to give the proper supply of ink, the flow through the lower series of holes being controlled in a manner hereinafter described. When shorter forms are in use, a corresponding portion of holes are left open and the rest closed by the short slides. If the form is divided into two'lengths and a space between, a slide is inserted over some of the central holes opposite said space.

For the purpose of controlling the flow of ink through the entire lower series of holes, as is sometimes desirable, I employ the movable plate 2', which is secured by screws through slots 3 in said plate to the bottom of the box on the inside, said screws being turned down so as to allow plate 2' to slide freely across the bottom. Platet' is about halfau inch narrower than the interior of the box, and is of sufficient thickness to cover the lower series of holes I).

In the use of this fountain the ink-roller comes in contact with the front of the box, receiving the ink as it oozes through the perforations thercin. The amount ot'ink passing through, being nicely regulated and applied to only such portions of the length of the roller as are needed for use, is easily and evenly distributed.- hen not in use the holes are shut by pushing the slide used t'orlong t'orms down till its lower edge rests in the rabbct d.

I claim as my invention An ink-fountain consisting of an ink-receptacle having one of its sides perforated in the manner shown and described, slides e, and plate i, all combined in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto signed my name.

JOHN R. RANKIN.

Witnesses:

H. P. H001), OZNI P. B001). 

